What Steps To Take After An Accident
Brian O Sutter
Accident Lawyers
Millions of accidents occur in Florida every single year. And while most of them are minor, a large percentage will be fairly major – major enough to require medical attention and potentially even cause the victim to miss time from work or become disabled. After you're involved in an accident, it can be difficult to focus on just what you should do. There are some obvious things and some that are constantly overlooked, but it's important to review all of the different steps in order to ensure that you are able to move on and recover – physically, emotionally, and financially.
The first and most obvious thing is simply making sure that you're okay physically. If you have been injured, seeking medical attention is a must. However, even those who may not think that they've been injured still need to see a doctor. The reason is that under Florida law, you only have fourteen days to seek medical attention. Wait longer than that, and you will become ineligible for compensation from a PIP policy.
If possible, there are several other steps worth taking or having someone take for you at the scene of the accident. These include:
- • Taking names of witnesses
- • Taking photos of the accident
- • Writing down your account of what happened while still fresh in your mind
These steps can all help you later if you need to pursue financial compensation for your injuries. If your accident wasn't your fault, there's a good chance that you can seek restitution for your medical costs, for lost wages due to missing work, and more. It's something that should be considered – especially due to the high costs of medical attention in this country.
After visiting a medical professional, your next step should be talking to an attorney. Even if you doubt that you have the grounds for compensation, finding out for sure is a good idea and could surprise you. Plus, the best accident lawyers will usually offer an initial consultation for free and usually represent you without charge until your settlement is awarded – then they deduct their fees.
When you talk to your attorney, they'll review the specifics of the accident to help figure out exactly what happened and whether or not you might be able to seek restitution. If they feel that you have the grounds to do so, they'll offer to represent you and get started quickly.
The different bits of evidence mentioned above can help – witnesses can be interviewed, photos can be studied, and your account will help piece together exactly what happened. But they'll go beyond that and actually put their own resources to work for you. These tools and resources can include:
- • Police statements
- • Accident reports
- • Private investigators
- • Accident reconstructionists
- • And more
Once you meet with your attorney, the next step you'll need to take is usually nothing more than to focus on recovering and healing. Your lawyer will work to get you the compensation that you're owed, and it will be a sum that is fair. This way you don't have to stress about your bills and can instead work on healing and moving on from your accident.
Being involved in an accident can be stressful, and the recovery process can be long. Knowing exactly what steps to take after an accident of any kind is a must so you are able to recover as best you can from it. The tips above should help make it somewhat easier to heal and recover financially as well as physically so you can move on with your life. Don't overlook these steps or what they offer to you.